HSE’S Internal Operational Instructions & Guidance

This category makes available the current internal instructions and guidance that HSE uses to carry out its core operational work of inspecting, investigating, permissioning and enforcing.

The material is presented here essentially in the same way as it is made available to HSE staff but with some additional explanation for an external audience.

HSE tries to keep its internal instructions and guidance under regular review but it is a big task. Not all the material presented here is completely up to date but it is all useful. HSE staff understand the context in which they are working and are able to interpret appropriately current material that would benefit from some revision.

Not all of HSE’s internal instructions and guidance are open documents. All the fully open material is available on this site.

• Class 0: Operations Group (OG)
• Class 1: Field Operations Directorate (FOD)
• Class 2: Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID)
• Class 3: Nuclear Directorate (ND)
• Class 4: Railway Inspectorate (HMRI)
• Class 5: Sector Information Minutes (SIMs)

Class 0: Operations Group (OG)

Operations Group includes FOD, HID & NSD.  These operational procedures apply across Operations Group

Document	Description	Availability	Format	Cost
Operational procedures	Inspection	Online	html	Free
	Investigation	Online	html	Free
	Complaints (OG Procedures)	Online	html	Free
	Enforcement decision	Online	html	Free
	Notice	Online	html	Free
	Prosecution	Online	html	Free
	Major incident	Online	html	Free

Class 1: Field Operations Directorate (FOD)

FOD is the largest operational inspectorate in HSE and covers many employment sectors including construction, agriculture, general manufacturing, engineering, food and drink, quarries, entertainment, education, health services, local and central government and domestic gas safety.

Document	Definition	Availability	Format	Cost
Operational Circulars (OCs)	OCs are arranged alphabetically according to a topic classification system	Online		Free
Operational Minutes (OMs)	OMs are arranged according to the year in which they were published	Online		Free
Inspection Packs	Inspection packs (also known as topic packs) describe and support inspection of the following topics: · Craft bakers · Asthmagens· Falls from height · Hand arm vibration syndrome· Musculoskeletal disorders · Slips and trips· Stress; · Workplace transport	Online		Free
Risk control indicators	Summarises the inspection packs listed above	Online	htm	Free
FOD Procedures	Includes: Adverse inspection reports Asbestos Licence Assessment Guide Asbestos notifications Construction notifications Contacting new to FOD businesses Site radiography notifications	Online		Free

Back to top

Class 2: Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID)

HID is responsible for regulating and promoting improvements in health and safety, contributing to the overall HSC/E aim of reducing and controlling the major hazard risks present, across the following high hazard industries and sectors: chemical manufacture and storage; gas storage and transportation; offshore oil and gas extraction; mining; diving; explosives; and biological agents.

Document	Definition	Availability	Format	Cost
HID Permanent Manuals	Classified under: · Enforcement· Permissioning· Technical	Online		Free
HID semi-permanent circulars	Classified under:· Enforcement· Permissioning· Technical	Online		Free
HID short life circulars	These are relatively few in number and have a life span of 6 months or less	Online		Free
HID discipline information notes	These are designed to provide rapid Online [PDF] Free information to colleagues on technical or discipline matters	Online		Free

Back to top

Class 3: Nuclear Safety Directorate (NSD)

NSD’s role is to secure effective control of health, safety and radioactive waste management at nuclear sites in the United Kingdom. NSD acts for HSE and as regulators act independently of any Government Department responsible for the UK nuclear power programme. NSD sets the safety standards to be used on nuclear sites in the UK.NSD’s internal operational instructions and guidance are arranged under the following key business activities:

Document	Definition	Availability	Format	Cost
Permissioning inspection		Online		Free
Compliance inspection		Online		Free
Standards and advice		Online		Free
Research		Online		Free
Technical assessment guides		Online		Free
Technical inspection guides		Online		Free
Information management		Online		Free
Business Management Manual		Online		Free
Administration		Online		Free
Finance & planning		Online		Free
Human resource managment		Online		Free

Back to top

Class 4: Railway Inspectorate (HMRI)

On 1 April 2006, responsibility for health and safety policy and enforcement on the railways transferred from HSC/E to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Please go to the Office of Rail Regulation website for more information.

Back to top

Class 5: Sector Information Minutes (SIMs)

Sectors produce internal instructions & guidance in the form of Sector Information Minutes (SIMs).

Document	Definition	Availability	Format	Cost
Agriculture & Food		Online		Free
Construction		Online		Free
Manufacturing		Online		Free
STSU	Services, Transport and Safety Unit (formerly CACTUS)	Online		Free
Public Services		Online		Free